Say what you will about Roger Goodell. He's making the sport boring. He throws fines and suspensions around like lollipops and rainbows. What ever. He's trying to stop these injuries. I don't care if you think QBs are being protected too much. I don't care if you're a saints fan and you think the NFL came down too hard on the franchise. Suck it up. The league needs to change. Brain injuries need to be taken more seriously and of all people the damn players shouldn't allow themselves to be goaded into a bounty system because they run the risk of ending up just like Junior Seau. But this isn't about The Saints. It's not even about Junior Seau, rest his soul. It's about Roger Goodell, what he's doing to clean up the league, what more can be done and how I, as a fan, appreciate his efforts to prevent exactly what happend today to Seau and what has happened to Andre Waters in 2007. More after the break.
We're back.
I love football. It's my favorite sport. And, although I know to some of you a statement like that is best answered with a "Well yeah, d'uh. Like so does almost all of America. So what?{pop}" (You may have noticed you sound like a valley girl chewing gum, but that's how you all sound to me. Reading everything in a valley girl accent keeps me from getting offended at anything. Try it, it's fun.)
My dad played for Olympiakos in Greece, which is the country he is from. It wouldn't have been unusual for him to have been from another country while he played there, it was just convenient that that was where he had all of his stuff. Within the first couple of days of my new life I was presented with my first soccer ball. It was a size three and I wish I still had it, but alas...
My first team was under six. I was four. I played until I was seventeen. I always wanted to play football but my father who was also my coach didn't want me to get injured thereby ending a possible partial or full ride paid for by soccer. That would have been cool. Didn't happen. Broke my leg playing soccer (oh the irony).
I did play football one year (Go North Lauderdale Raiders!) Coach Mitch told me I'd never be a linebacker but because of my size I'd be a great Right Tackle, which was bullshit because I was a horrible right tackle and I didn't play much.
So I don't know why I love the sport as much as I do (stayed home Thursday to watch the draft), but I do.
This is a little difficult to write and I seem to be evading the point to I'm just going to say it. There is a reason Junior Seau shot himself in the chest. It's the same reason Andre Waters chose the same way to stop the pain. They wanted us to know. They wanted us to know how much it hurt and how intolerable the pain was. And truthfully, I can't even blame them. I have dealt with chronic pain that doesn't even come close to the existence changing pain they were living with and suicide was not an uncommon thought.
Roger Goodell became commish in 2006. Since then he has made these changes:
2006
Low hits on the quarterback are prohibited when a rushing defender has an opportunity to avoid such contact.
Blocks in the back above the waist by the kicking team while the ball is in flight during a scrimmage kick are illegal.
The definition of a “horse collar tackle” is expanded to include grabbing the inside collar of the jersey.
During a field-goal attempt or a try, a defensive player who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap must have his helmet outside the snapper’s shoulder pad.
Personal or unsportsmanlike conduct fouls that occur during halftime or during intermission between fourth period and an overtime period will be penalized on the ensuing kickoff.
During a free kick, at least four kicking team players must be on each side of the kicker when the ball is kicked.
2007
A block below the waist against an eligible receiver while the quarterback is in the pocket is a 15-yard penalty instead of a 5-yard penalty (an illegal cut block).
2009
Teams are not permitted to intentionally form a wedge of more than two players on a kickoff return in an attempt to block for the runner. Penalty: 15 yards.
The “bunch” formation on kickoffs is eliminated. The kickoff team must have at least three players outside each hash mark, one of whom must be outside the yard-line number.
It is an illegal “blindside” block if the blocker is moving toward his own endline and approaches the opponent from behind or from the side, and the initial force of the contact by the blocker’s helmet, forearm, or shoulder is to the head or neck area of an opponent.
Penalty: 15-yards.
It is an illegal hit on a defenseless receiver if the initial force of the contact by the defender’s helmet, forearm, or shoulder is to the head or neck area of the receiver. Penalty: 15 yards.
Clarified rule regarding low hits on passers:
A defender cannot initiate a roll or lunge and forcibly hit the passer in the knee area or below, even if he is being contacted by another player.
It is not a foul if the defender swipes, wraps, or grabs a passer in the knee area or below in an attempt to tackle him.
2010
During a field-goal attempt, punt, or try-kick, a defensive team player, who is within one yard of line of scrimmage at snap, must have his entire body outside the snapper’s shoulder pads.
After a half has expired, dead ball personal fouls by either team will be enforced on the succeeding kickoff.
A player who has just completed a catch is protected from blows to the head or neck by an opponent who launches.
All “defenseless players” are protected from blows to the head delivered by an opponent’s helmet, forearm, or shoulder.
Kickers and punters during the kick and return, and quarterbacks after a change of possession, are protected from blows to the head delivered by an opponent’s helmet, forearm, or shoulder, instead of just helmet-to-helmet contact.
The ball is declared dead at the spot if a runner’s helmet comes completely off.
2011
The restraining line for the kicking team is moved from the 30- to the 35-yard line in an effort to increase touchbacks.
All kicking team players other than the kicker must be lined up no more than five yards behind their restraining line, eliminating the 15-20 yard running “head start” that had become customary for many players.
The list of “defenseless players” is expanded to include a kicker/punter during the kick or during the return, a quarterback at any time after a change of possession, and a player who receives a “blindside” block when the blocker is moving toward his own endline and approaches the opponent from behind or from the side. Previously, these players were protected against blows to the head, but not against blows delivered by an opponent with the top/crown or forehead/”hairline” parts of the helmet against other parts of the body.
A receiver who has completed a catch is a “defenseless player” until he has had time to protect himself or has clearly become a runner. A receiver/runner is no longer defenseless if he is able to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent. Previously, the receiver who had completed a catch was protected against an opponent who launched and delivered a blow to the receiver’s head.
More can be done and it's going to be up to us, the fans, to put pressure on Goodell to make injuries like those shared by players like Waters and Seau. And I am never going to say he is making football boring again.